Text Structure PDF
Text Structure PDF
Text Structure PDF
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<strong>Text</strong> <strong>Structure</strong><br />
What organizational pattern did the author<br />
use to achieve his/her purpose?
What do you know now?<br />
• Description<br />
• How do you describe something?<br />
• Sequence/time order<br />
• How do you tell something in time order/sequence?<br />
• Comparison-contrast<br />
• How do you compare two things?<br />
• Cause-effect<br />
• How do you explain the effects of something?<br />
• Problem-solution<br />
• How do you discuss solutions to problems?
Description<br />
• Consider the purpose: Determine the qualities to<br />
describe. Elaborate on those qualities.<br />
• Look for signal word(s) in answers: Describe<br />
• Look for signal words in passages: for example, for<br />
instance, specifically, in particular, in addition
Description: Example<br />
The day after Thanksgiving was a<br />
shopping disaster. For example, some<br />
people were injured when they were<br />
shoved or actually hit by other shoppers.<br />
In addition, some people had to wait in<br />
lines for hours just to get in the door.<br />
Others waited for hours in a check-out<br />
line. Few had a good experience.
Sequence<br />
• Consider the purpose: to tell the order of steps in a<br />
process—or—to tell the order of events that occur<br />
• Look for signal word(s) in answers: steps,<br />
order of events<br />
• Look for signal words: ext, first, last, second,<br />
another, then, additionally
Sequence: Example<br />
To survive Black Friday, one must follow a<br />
process. First, the shoppers must determine<br />
exactly what they want so that they do not waste<br />
steps. Second, shoppers must be present<br />
before the doors open. They must stay focused<br />
on the objects they want without making eye<br />
contact with other shoppers. Finally, they must<br />
grab the product they want and head to the<br />
nearest check-out line. This day is not the day<br />
to look leisurely at other items.
Comparison-Contrast<br />
• Consider the purpose: to show the similarities and<br />
differences between two<br />
events/people/places/objects/ideas by examining<br />
specific traits<br />
• Look for signal word(s) in answers: compare,<br />
contrast, differ<br />
• Look for signal words: however, unlike, like, yet, in<br />
comparison, in contrast, although, similar to, different<br />
from
Comparison-Contrast: Example<br />
Both Black Friday and the day before<br />
Christmas are crazy shopping day; however,<br />
there are differences in shopper attitude on<br />
these two days. Shoppers on Black Friday are<br />
particular in the items they want unlike<br />
shoppers the day before Christmas, who are<br />
satisfied with any item that they can stick under<br />
the tree. Shoppers on Black Friday are intense<br />
and become emotional and angry. In contrast,<br />
shoppers on the day before Christmas may be<br />
intense but they remain happy as Christmas day<br />
is near.
Cause-Effect<br />
• Consider the purpose: to explain the<br />
result/consequences of an event<br />
• Look for signal word(s) in answers:<br />
explain why<br />
• Look for signal words: consequently,<br />
therefore, as a result, thereby, leads to
Cause-Effect: Example<br />
I went shopping the day after Thanksgiving.<br />
Consequently, I suffered much mentally. I<br />
could not find the throw I wanted. Therefore, I<br />
picked up one that did not even resemble what I<br />
wanted. I waited in line 45 minutes to pay more<br />
than I expected to pay for something I did not<br />
really want. As a result, I went home an<br />
unhappy shopper who never again wants to<br />
shop on Black Friday.
Problem-Solution<br />
• Consider the purpose: to discuss a problem that<br />
is difficult and to provide one or more possible<br />
solutions to the problem<br />
• Look for Signal Word(s) in answers: explain<br />
ways, how<br />
• Look for Signal Words: solution, possible<br />
answer, problem, alternative, therefore
: Problem-solution: Example<br />
Black Friday cannot continue as it is presently<br />
practiced. One solution is to expand Friday to<br />
an entire week. Instead of offering specials for<br />
one day only, the specials would be available for<br />
a week. This alternative would alleviate the<br />
crowds that now form. Another possible<br />
answer to the problem is to force stores to hire<br />
security guards to monitor the lines that form<br />
and the mobs that gather.
To determine text structure<br />
Number 1–<br />
Think!<br />
you already know all you need to know!
Try it without a passage<br />
1. ____ The author uses description as the<br />
structure of the passage mainly to<br />
a. describe the physical qualities of<br />
Abraham Lincoln<br />
b. show the order of events that occurred<br />
when Abraham Lincoln took office<br />
c. explain the effects of the Civil War on<br />
Abraham Lincoln’s presidency<br />
Hint: Think about what a description is.
The answer is –<br />
a. Describe the physical qualities of<br />
Abraham Lincoln
What you should do—<br />
1. Think about what you already know.<br />
2. Check your answer by re-reading the<br />
passage.
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